Friday New Video Action

Two new videos making the rounds today, and both feature M.I.A.!

1. M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

The similarities between this video and the nine-minute short that accompanied “Born Free,” the first track leaked from M.I.A.’s last album, // / Y /, start and end with the fact that both were directed by Romain Gavras. As a single, “Bad Girls” seems to signal a return to the lady emcee’s infectious world music hooks and globalized mash-up of cultural references after her album-length experiment with electronoise. As a video, “Bad Girls” looks much closer to something like Béyonce’s “Who Run the World (Girls)” than the Logan’s-Run-cum-ginger-genocide that was “Born Free.” Does this mean she’s going back to the formula that made her crazy successful? We’ll see.

2. Madonna, “All Your Luvin'”

Madonna’s showing an ability to laugh at herself that isn’t always apparent, but she’s clearly in charge here. Although she’s said that she wanted Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. in on this project because she’s a big fan of their independence and spirit, they’re clearly there as accessories–there’s no question as to who has the spotlight. That being said, on this track and in this video, Madge sounds and looks… well, a little bored?

That’s all I have for now, kids. I’ve been insanely busy lately with the beginning of the semester and a bunch of fellowship application deadlines, but hopefully things will normalize a bit soon. Ciao for now.